US5993100A - Curtain-rail connector - Google Patents

Curtain-rail connector Download PDF

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Publication number
US5993100A
US5993100A US09/207,243 US20724398A US5993100A US 5993100 A US5993100 A US 5993100A US 20724398 A US20724398 A US 20724398A US 5993100 A US5993100 A US 5993100A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
rails
slot
longitudinally
head
hanger
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US09/207,243
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Gunter Gastmann
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cedargrove Ltd
Original Assignee
Cedargrove Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cedargrove Ltd filed Critical Cedargrove Ltd
Assigned to CEDARGROVE LIMITED reassignment CEDARGROVE LIMITED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GASTMANN, GUNTER
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US5993100A publication Critical patent/US5993100A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47H—FURNISHINGS FOR WINDOWS OR DOORS
    • A47H1/00—Curtain suspension devices
    • A47H1/04—Curtain rails
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/55—Member ends joined by inserted section
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T403/00—Joints and connections
    • Y10T403/57—Distinct end coupler
    • Y10T403/5706—Diverse serial connections

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a curtain-rail connector. More particularly this invention concerns such a connector used with a hollow curtain rail in which move curtain-supporting hangers.
  • the longitudinally extending guide rails form a downwardly open and longitudinally extending slot and each rail has a pair of longitudinally extending upwardly directed support faces flanking the slot.
  • the hangers each have a head longitudinally displaceable inside the rails on the support faces thereof, a body projecting through the slot downward out of the rails, and a horizontally projecting guide flange immediately below the rails and at a predetermined spacing below the head.
  • the curtain is normally suspended from loops on the lower ends of the hangers.
  • Another object is the provision of such an improved connector for a hollow-rail curtain-mount assembly which overcomes the above-given disadvantages, that is which ensures smooth travel of the hangers between adjacent rails.
  • the instant invention is a connector used in combination with a pair of hollow longitudinally extending guide rails having longitudinally confronting ends.
  • Each rail forms a downwardly open and longitudinally extending slot and has a pair of longitudinally extending upwardly directed support faces flanking the slot.
  • a hanger has a head longitudinally displaceable inside the rails on the support faces thereof, a body projecting through the slot downward out of the rails, and a horizontally projecting guide flange immediately below the rails and at a predetermined spacing below the head.
  • the hanger is adapted to carry a curtain below the rails.
  • the connector has a flat, vertical, and transversely extending body plate between the rail ends and a pair of flat guides fixed to the body plate below the rail ends, extending between and longitudinally overlapping the rail ends, and each having a generally horizontally extending upper face engageable with the guide flange on sliding of the hanger between the rails and subdivided into a downwardly inclined end region extending at a small acute angle to the support faces and a center region substantially parallel to the support faces.
  • the guides are transversely spaced and separated by a longitudinally extending gap directly below the slot having a widened end.
  • the center regions of the upper faces are spaced below the support surfaces by a distance shorter than the spacing between the guide flange and the head such that as the guide flange rides up the end region the head is lifted up off the support faces. Formations secure the body plate between the rail ends.
  • this connector in effect makes the hangers jump over the ends of the rails. Even if these ends are not perfectly aligned, one being higher than the other for instance, the hanger will be raised and will pass over the uneven joint, supported on the guides of the hanger.
  • the connector can also have an angle built in, that is be centered on a curved line, to form corner connectors for the curtain rail.
  • the body plate is formed with tabs projecting longitudinally into the rail ends.
  • the rail ends are formed with seats complementary to the tabs. This ensures a solid connection.
  • the connector further has connecting webs between the guides and the plate and the guides have confronting inner edges that flare apart at at least one longitudinal end, normally at opposite longitudinal ends.
  • the connector can also compensate for any minor horizontal misalignment of the rails it joins.
  • These guides in accordance with the invention have downwardly concave lower faces. Furthermore the connector is unitarily formed of one piece of plastic.
  • each rail forms a downwardly open and longitudinally extending slot of predetermined width and the connector forms a longitudinally extending gap directly below the slot and having a width narrower than the slot width.
  • This slot is formed by confronting inner edges that flare apart at at least one longitudinal end.
  • FIG. 1 is an end view of the connector according to the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a side view taken in the direction of arrow II of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a section taken along line III--III of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow IV of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a side view of the hanger used in the system of this invention.
  • FIG. 6 is a top view taken in the direction of arrow VI of FIG. 5,
  • FIG. 7 is a partly sectional side view taken in the direction of arrow VII of FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 8 is a side view of a connector between a pair of guide rails according to the invention.
  • the instant invention is aimed at a connector 8 (FIGS. 1-4) intended to interconnect ends of a pair of curtain-guide rails 1 (FIGS. 1 and 8) along which slide a plurality of hangers (FIGS. 5-7) from which is suspended a curtain 21.
  • the rails 1 are normally made of metal or plastic and extend in a normally horizontal longitudinal direction L. They are hollow and form a downwardly open slot 3 and a pair of upwardly directed support surfaces 15.
  • Each hanger 2 is formed of one piece of plastic and has, as generally described in commonly owned patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,518,058, a body 20 provided at its upper end with a T-shaped head 4 that normally rides on the surfaces 15 and, set therebelow at a spacing d, a transversely projecting guide flange 6 that is normally situated below the rails 1.
  • a carriage 5 is provided below the flange 6 and below it is a hanger loop 7 that passes through an eyelet of the curtain 21.
  • a plurality of such hangers 2 is normally employed, spaced apart in the direction L, to carry the curtain 21. This structure is standard.
  • the connector 8 has a plate-like body 9 of downwardly open U-shape that is fitted between the ends of the rails 1 and that extends perpendicular to the direction L. It is formed on each of its longitudinally directed faces at its outer ends with longitudinally projecting mounting tabs 16 that engage in complementary seats 17 (FIG. 8) of the rails 1 to secure the body plate 9 solidly in place between the rail ends. If the opposite faces of the body 9 are not parallel, the connector can be used to form a corner.
  • the connector body 9 carries a pair of bridge guides 10 by means of connecting webs 18.
  • Each such guide 10 is basically flat with a downwardly concave lower face and lies in a horizontal plane, with run-up end surfaces 11 and a horizontal center surface 12, the latter at a spacing D below the support faces 15.
  • the guides 10 are separated by a space 13 somewhat narrower than the slot 3 but wide enough to allow the body 20 to pass between them.
  • the space 13 has longitudinally flared ends 14 whose width at their outermost part is equal to or slightly greater than that of the slot 3. Similarly the ends of the slot 3 are flared at 19 to ease entry of the hangers 2 into them.
  • each hanger 2 moves from one rail 1 to the next, it will be briefly supported by the guides 10 engaging the under side of the flange 6 since the dimension d is smaller than the dimension D.
  • the faces 11 and 12 of the guides are spaced below the support faces 15 of the rails that, as the flange 6 engages the one run-up surface, the hanger 2 is lifted to raise its head 4 off the faces 15.
  • the hanger 2 passes between the rails 1 it is supported on the guides 11.
  • the head 4 is set back down on the faces 15 for normal movement.
  • this operation can be the same, although normally the rollers used are of great enough diameter that they can bridge any minor gap between adjacent rail ends.

Landscapes

  • Curtains And Furnishings For Windows Or Doors (AREA)
  • Connection Of Plates (AREA)
US09/207,243 1997-12-17 1998-12-08 Curtain-rail connector Expired - Fee Related US5993100A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19755828 1997-12-17
DE19755828A DE19755828C2 (de) 1997-12-17 1997-12-17 Vorrichtung zum Verbinden von Gardinenlaufschienen für Gardinengleiter

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US5993100A true US5993100A (en) 1999-11-30

Family

ID=7852063

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/207,243 Expired - Fee Related US5993100A (en) 1997-12-17 1998-12-08 Curtain-rail connector

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US5993100A (cs)
EP (1) EP0923899A3 (cs)
CZ (1) CZ412198A3 (cs)
DE (1) DE19755828C2 (cs)
TR (1) TR199802622A3 (cs)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6408587B2 (en) * 1999-12-24 2002-06-25 Total Fabrications Limited Structural members and associated parts
NL1017200C2 (nl) * 2001-01-26 2002-07-29 Forest Group Nederland Bv Koppelelement voor gordijnrails.
FR2838157A1 (fr) * 2002-04-05 2003-10-10 Carvalho Paolo Georges De Systeme anti-glisse pour store suspendu
US20050099036A1 (en) * 2003-11-06 2005-05-12 Webasto Ag Guide rail and roof frame for the roof opening system of a motor vehicle
US20050180814A1 (en) * 2002-07-30 2005-08-18 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device for plane-parallel attachment of two modules
US20080163986A1 (en) * 2007-01-08 2008-07-10 Lin Ya Li Window shade detention member
US20090193575A1 (en) * 2008-02-05 2009-08-06 Prian John L Anti-splash shower curtain
US7909775B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2011-03-22 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for lancet launching device integrated onto a blood-sampling cartridge
US8069898B1 (en) 2009-04-03 2011-12-06 Homerun Holdings Corp. Guide apparatus and method
US20140268627A1 (en) * 2013-03-14 2014-09-18 Victor M. Contreras, JR. Apparatus and Method for a Suspended Track and Curtain
US8882067B2 (en) 2010-05-22 2014-11-11 Material Control, Inc. Guide track system and components thereof
TWI606803B (zh) * 2016-09-23 2017-12-01 亦欣企業股份有限公司 彎軌結構及其安裝方法

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10005830C1 (de) 2000-02-10 2001-02-15 Cedargrove Ltd Vorrichtung zum Verbinden von Gardinenlaufschienen für Gardinengleiter

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1904588A (en) * 1931-11-06 1933-04-18 Weinberg Isidor Curtain rod
US3587131A (en) * 1968-03-09 1971-06-28 Peter Graf Curtain guide rail assembly
US5518058A (en) * 1993-10-12 1996-05-21 Cedargrove Limited Curtain-rail slide

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH294630A (de) * 1951-07-21 1953-11-30 Vossloh Werke Gmbh Aufhängevorrichtung für Gardinen und Vorhänge.
GB1058364A (en) * 1964-11-05 1967-02-08 French & Sons Thomas Improvements in or relating to curtain suspension track
DE1779985B2 (de) * 1968-02-29 1974-08-15 6994 Niederstetten Vorrichtung zum stirnseitigen Verbinden von Vorhangschienen mit den Enden eines Einsatzstückes Ausscheidung aus: 1729929
DE1729920A1 (de) * 1968-03-09 1970-12-10 Alufa Vorhangschienen Einfuehrungsoeffnung an U-foermigen Fuehrungsschienen fuer Gleiter
DE1928974A1 (de) * 1969-06-07 1970-12-10 Rigola Werk Schmidt Julius Aus mehreren Einzelteilen zusammensetzbare Vorhangschiene Kennwort:Schwersteg-Schiene
DE2229805A1 (de) * 1972-06-19 1974-01-17 Rigola Werk Schmidt Julius Vorhangschiene aus kunststoff

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1904588A (en) * 1931-11-06 1933-04-18 Weinberg Isidor Curtain rod
US3587131A (en) * 1968-03-09 1971-06-28 Peter Graf Curtain guide rail assembly
US5518058A (en) * 1993-10-12 1996-05-21 Cedargrove Limited Curtain-rail slide

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6408587B2 (en) * 1999-12-24 2002-06-25 Total Fabrications Limited Structural members and associated parts
RU2263454C2 (ru) * 2001-01-26 2005-11-10 Форест Груп Недерланд Б.В. Соединительный элемент для направляющих занавеса, направляющая занавеса
NL1017200C2 (nl) * 2001-01-26 2002-07-29 Forest Group Nederland Bv Koppelelement voor gordijnrails.
WO2002058520A1 (en) * 2001-01-26 2002-08-01 Forest Group Nederland B.V. Connecting member for curtain rails
US7909775B2 (en) 2001-06-12 2011-03-22 Pelikan Technologies, Inc. Method and apparatus for lancet launching device integrated onto a blood-sampling cartridge
WO2003085221A1 (fr) * 2002-04-05 2003-10-16 Georges De Carvalho Paolo System anti-glisse pour store suspendu
FR2838157A1 (fr) * 2002-04-05 2003-10-10 Carvalho Paolo Georges De Systeme anti-glisse pour store suspendu
US20050180814A1 (en) * 2002-07-30 2005-08-18 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device for plane-parallel attachment of two modules
US7455472B2 (en) * 2002-07-30 2008-11-25 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Device for plane-parallel attachment of two modules
US20050099036A1 (en) * 2003-11-06 2005-05-12 Webasto Ag Guide rail and roof frame for the roof opening system of a motor vehicle
US7073851B2 (en) * 2003-11-06 2006-07-11 Webasto Ag Guide rail and roof frame for the roof opening system of a motor vehicle
US20080163986A1 (en) * 2007-01-08 2008-07-10 Lin Ya Li Window shade detention member
US20090193575A1 (en) * 2008-02-05 2009-08-06 Prian John L Anti-splash shower curtain
US8069898B1 (en) 2009-04-03 2011-12-06 Homerun Holdings Corp. Guide apparatus and method
US8882067B2 (en) 2010-05-22 2014-11-11 Material Control, Inc. Guide track system and components thereof
US20140268627A1 (en) * 2013-03-14 2014-09-18 Victor M. Contreras, JR. Apparatus and Method for a Suspended Track and Curtain
TWI606803B (zh) * 2016-09-23 2017-12-01 亦欣企業股份有限公司 彎軌結構及其安裝方法

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE19755828A1 (de) 1999-07-01
EP0923899A3 (de) 2000-03-29
CZ412198A3 (cs) 1999-12-15
TR199802622A2 (xx) 1999-07-21
EP0923899A2 (de) 1999-06-23
TR199802622A3 (tr) 1999-07-21
DE19755828C2 (de) 2000-10-12

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AS Assignment

Owner name: CEDARGROVE LIMITED, GERMANY

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:GASTMANN, GUNTER;REEL/FRAME:009710/0595

Effective date: 19990108

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
FP Lapsed due to failure to pay maintenance fee

Effective date: 20031130

STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362